The Springs of Steamboat

An interactive exploration of Steamboat's famous mineral springs with Dagny McKinley, author of the new book The Springs of Steamboat: Healing Waters, Mysterious Caves & Sparkling Sodas.

From a slideshow to sensory samplings, explore the curative powers (as well as some humorous stories) of Steamboat's springs and the mineral resources that almost made Steamboat a world-famous healing destination.

About the book,The Springs of Steamboat Steamboat Springs is world renowned for the ski mountain that overshadows the town, but it was the multitude of springs that drew Ute Indians and then the first white settlers to this valley. John Crawford, Steamboat’s founder, envisioned a town where people traveled from around the world to take part in the healing properties of the waters. The various springs were believed to cure everything from rheumatism, gout and dyspepsia to virulent blood disorders and skin diseases. While some springs have disappeared and others were sacrificed in the name of progress, many–including Old Town Hot Springs and Strawberry Park Hot Springs–still beckon visitors to bask in their sparkling waters.

About Dagny McKinleyDagny McKinley has lived all over the world, but found home in the expansive granite landscape of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. She is as comfortable in the city as she is in the wilderness, but prefers the challenges of big mountains and surviving outdoors. McKinley stays current on environmental issues, women’s issues and is an avid animal rights supporter. She believes all lives are interconnected and each person, landscape and insect has something to offer and teach. Writing has been a part of McKinley’s life since she was a small child. She found healing through writing and hiking and continues to pursue those passions today. During her down time, you can find her lost in a book or magazine, regenerating her spirit through the words of others, at her computer or exploring mountains, streams and lakes. She is also the author of two previous books, Lessons My Mother Taught Me and Wild Hearts: Dog Sledding the Rockies.